FLAVIN‐BINDING KELCH REPEAT F‐BOX 1 (FKF1 ) encodes an F‐box protein that regulates photoperiod flowering in Arabidopsis under long‐day conditions (LDs). Gibberellin (GA) is also important for regulating flowering under LDs. However, how FKF1 and the GA pathway work in concert in regulating flowering is not fully understood. Here, we showed that the mutation of FKF1 could cause accumulation of DELLA

The juvenile‐to‐adult transition in plants involves changes in vegetative growth and plant architecture; the timing of this transition has important implications for agriculture. The microRNA miR156 regulates this transition and shoot maturation in plants. In Arabidopsis thaliana , deposition of histone H3 trimethylation on lysine 27 (H3K27me3, a repressive mark) at the MIR156A/C loci is regulated

Plants have evolved efficient mechanisms for adapting to temperature fluctuations, known as heat stress response and heat stress memory. Although the transcriptional regulatory network of plant heat stress response has been established, little is known about the genome‐wide transcriptional changes occurring within the first several minutes after heat shock. Here, we investigated the nascent RNA and

Cell division is precisely regulated and highly tissue‐specific; studies have suggested that diverse signals in the epidermis, especially the epidermal brassinosteroids (BRs), can regulate root growth. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms that integrate hormonal cues such as BR signaling with other endogenous, tissue‐specific developmental programs to regulate epidermal cell proliferation remain

Following double fertilization, plant endosperm nuclei undergo syncytial divisions, followed by synchronous cellularization. Cellularization is a key event during endosperm development, but our understanding of its regulation is limited to Arabidopsis . In this study we show that OsbZIP76 regulates cellularization in rice (Oryza sativa ). Activation of OsbZIP76 coincided with the initiation of cellularization

High salinity is one of the major limiting factors that reduces crop productivity and quality. Herein, we report that small SALT TOLERANCE ENHANCER1 (STE1) protein without any known conserved domains is required for tomato salt tolerance. Overexpression (OE) of SlSTE1 enhanced the tolerance to multiple chloride salts (NaCl, KCl and LiCl) and oxidative stress, along with elevated antioxidant enzyme

Flowering time and plant height are key agronomic traits that directly affect soybean (Glycine max ) yield. APETALA1 (AP1 ) functions as a class A gene in the ABCE model for floral organ development, helping to specify carpel, stamen, petal, and sepal identities. There are four AP1 homologs in soybean, all of which are mainly expressed in the shoot apex. Here, we used CRISPR‐Cas9 technology to generate

Because Iron (Fe) is an essential element, Fe storage in plant seeds is necessary for seedling establishment following germination. However, the mechanisms controlling seed Fe storage during seed development remain largely unknown. Here we reveal that an ERF95 transcription factor regulates Arabidopsis seed Fe accumulation. We show that expression of ERF95 increases during seed maturation, and that

Disruption of the MEKK1‐MKK1/MKK2‐MPK4 kinase cascade leads to activation of immunity mediated by the nucleotide‐binding leucine‐rich repeat (NLR) immune receptor SUMM2, which monitors the phosphorylation status of CRCK3. Here we report that two receptor‐like kinases (RLKs), MDS1, and MDS2, function redundantly to promote SUMM2‐mediated immunity. Activation of SUMM2‐mediated immunity is dependent on

Ionic aluminum (Al3+) has been well known to be rhizotoxic to most plant species on acidic soils. In this issue, Sun et al. (984‐997) report that Al3+ has become an essential element for tea plant growth, through maintenance of DNA integrity in root meristematic cells.

Gamma‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) is an important metabolite which functions in plant growth, development, and stress responses. However, its role in plant defense and how it is regulated are largely unknown. Here, we report a detailed analysis of GABA induction during the resistance response to Pseudomonas syringae in Arabidopsis thaliana . While searching for the mechanism underlying the pathogen‐responsive

Secondary plant metabolites, represented by indole glucosinolates (IGS) and camalexin, play important roles in Arabidopsis immunity. Previously, we demonstrated the importance of MPK3 and MPK6, two closely related MAPKs, in regulating Botrytis cinerea (Bc )‐induced IGS and camalexin biosynthesis. Here we report that CPK5 and CPK6, two redundant calcium‐dependent protein kinases (CPKs), are also involved

Iron is an essential microelement for plant growth. After uptake from the soil, iron is chelated by ligands and translocated from roots to shoots for subsequent utilization. However, the number of ligands involved in iron chelation is unclear. In this study, we identified and demonstrated that GLU1, which encodes a ferredoxin‐dependent glutamate synthase, was involved in iron homeostasis. First, the

Plant cells have a powerful capacity in their propagation to adapt to environmental change, given that a single plant cell can give rise to a whole plant via somatic embryogenesis without the need for fertilization. The reprogramming of somatic cells into totipotent cells is a critical step in somatic embryogenesis. This process can be induced by stimuli such as plant hormones, transcriptional regulators

WRKY12 and WRKY13 are two WRKY transcription factors that play important roles in the control of flowering time under short‐day (SD) conditions. The temporally regulated expression of WRKY12 and WRKY13 indicates that they may be involved in the age‐mediated flowering pathway. However, their roles in this pathway are poorly understood. Here, we show that the transcription of WRKY12 and WRKY13 is directly

Cas12b/C2c1 is a newly identified class 2 CRISPR endonuclease that was recently engineered for targeted genome editing in mammals and rice. To explore the potential applications of the CRISPR‐Cas12b system in the dicot Arabidopsis thaliana , we selected BvCas12b and BhCas12b v4 for analysis. We successfully used both endonucleases to induce mutations, perform multiplex genome editing, and create large

Iron (Fe) deficient plants employ multiple strategies to increase root uptake and root‐to‐shoot translocation of Fe. The identification of genes that are responsible for these processes, and a comprehensive understanding of the regulatory effects of transcriptional networks on their expression, including transcription factors (TFs), is underway in Arabidopsis thaliana . Here, we show that a Histone‐

Cuticular wax is a natural barrier on terrestrial plant organs, which protects plants from damages caused by a variety of stresses. Here, we report the identification and functional characterization of a cuticular‐wax‐related gene, Zea mays L. SEMI‐ROLLED LEAF 5 (ZmSRL5 ). The loss‐of‐function mutant srl5 , which was created by a 3,745 bp insertion in the first intron that led to the premature transcript

The brown planthopper (BPH) and striped stem borer (SSB) are the most devastating insect pests in rice (Oryza sativa ) producing areas. Screening for endogenous resistant genes is the most practical strategy for rice insect‐resistance breeding. Forty‐five mutants showing high resistance against BPH were identified in a rice T‐DNA insertion population (11,000 putative homozygous lines) after 4 years

The polar growth of pollen tubes is essential for the delivery of sperm cells during fertilization in angiosperms. How the polar growth is regulated has been a long‐standing question. in‐vitro pharmacological assay implies possible involvement of H+ flux in pollen tube growth, while genetic and cellular evidence is still lacking. Here, we found that proton forms a gradient from the pollen tube tip

In Arabidopsis, RNA‐directed DNA methylation (RdDM) is required for the maintenance of CHH methylation, and for de novo methylation in all (CG, CHG, and CHH) contexts, but no obvious effect of RdDM deficiency on plant development has been found to date.

Plant UV‐B responses are mediated by the photoreceptor UV RESISTANCE LOCUS 8 (UVR8). In response to UV‐B irradiation, UVR8 homodimers dissociate into monomers that bind to the E3 ubiquitin ligase CONSTITUTIVE PHOTOMORPHOGENIC1 (COP1). The interaction of the C27 domain in the C‐terminal tail of UVR8 with the WD40 domain of COP1 is critical for UV‐B signaling. However, the function of the last 17 amino

Cassava is an important root crop for food and starch production in tropics. In this issue, Zhou et al. (pp. 832–846) reported the generation of high‐amylose cassava by downregulating expression of the BE2 gene. This work can provide a novel source of cassava starch for various industrial applications.

Imitation Switch (ISWI) chromatin remodelers are known to function in diverse multi‐subunit complexes in yeast and animals. However, the constitution and function of ISWI complexes in Arabidopsis thaliana remain unclear. In this study, we identified forkhead‐associated domain 2 (FHA2) as a plant‐specific subunit of an ISWI chromatin‐remodeling complex in Arabidopsis . By in vivo and in vitro analyses

The phytochrome B (phyB) photoreceptor plays a major role that inputs light signals to regulate seed dormancy and germination. PHYTOCHROME-INTERACTING FACTOR1 (PIF1) is a key transcription factor repressing phyB-mediated seed germination, while REVEILLE1 (RVE1) factor functions as a curial regulator in controlling both seed dormancy and germination. However, the relationship between the PIF1- and RVE1-modulated

Brassinosteroids (BRs) play important roles in regulating plant reproductive processes. BR signaling or BR biosynthesis null mutants do not produce seeds under natural conditions, but the molecular mechanism underlying this infertility is poorly understood. In this study, we report that outer integument growth and embryo sac development were impaired in the ovules of the Arabidopsis thaliana BR receptor

Plants have evolved sophisticated defense mechanisms to overcome their sessile nature. However, if and how volatiles from cold-stressed plants can trigger interplant communication is still unknown. Here, we provide the first evidence for interplant communication via inducible volatiles in cold stress. The volatiles, including nerolidol, geraniol, linalool, and methyl salicylate, emitted from cold-stressed

The extensive phenotypic diversity within natural populations of Arabidopsis is associated with differences in gene expression. Transcript levels can be considered as inheritable quantitative traits, and used to map expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) in genome-wide association studies (GWASs). In order to identify putative genetic determinants for variations in gene expression, we used publicly

The cover shows a rice deficiency mutant in local auxin biosynthesis. In this issue, Guo et al. (581–600) report a rice tsg1 mutant which has more tillers but a smaller panicle and grain size resulting from a reduction in endogenous auxin. TSG1 encodes a tryptophan aminotransferase localized at the endoplasmic reticulum with remarkable aminotransferase activity. TSG1 dominates the tryptophan aminotransferase

Flowering time variation in soybean is well characterized within domesticated germplasms and is critical for modern production, but its importance during domestication is unclear. Recently, Lu et al. (Nature Genetics, 2020) reported that two homeologous pseudo-response-regulator genes, Tof12 and Tof11, were sequentially selected in early soybean evolution for ancient flowering time adaptation and intensification

MYB transcription factors play vital roles in plant growth and metabolism. The phytohormone methyl jasmonate (MeJA) promotes phenolic acid accumulation in the medicinal herb Salvia miltiorrhiza , but the regulatory mechanism is poorly understood. Here, we identified the MeJA‐responsive R2R3‐MYB transcription factor gene SmMYB2 from a transcriptome library produced from MeJA‐treated S. miltiorrhiza

In eukaryotes, autophagy helps maintain cellular homeostasis by degrading and recycling cytoplasmic materials via a tightly regulated pathway. Over the past few decades, significant progress has been made towards understanding the physiological functions and molecular regulation of autophagy in plant cells. Increasing evidence indicates that autophagy is essential for plant responses to several developmental

Diseases caused by Botryosphaeria dothidea affect apple yields. Zhao et al. (527–543) reported that MdWRKY15 activated the transcription of MdICS1 by directly binding to its promoter to increase the accumulation of SA and the expression of disease‐related genes, thereby resulting in the enhanced resistance to B. dothidea in the SA biosynthesis pathway in apple.

Hormones are important signaling molecules regulating developmental processes and responses to environmental stimuli in higher plants. Rice endosperm, the portion of the seed surrounding the embryo, is the main determinant of rice grain shape and yield; however, the dynamics and exact functions of phytohormones in developing endosperm remain elusive. Through a systemic study including transcriptome

Trehalose plays important roles in plant growth and stress responses and is synthesized from trehalose‐6‐phosphate by trehalose‐6‐phosphate phosphatase (TPP). Here, we show that trehalose and abscisic acid (ABA) have synergistic effects on root growth and stomatal closure. The Arabidopsis thaliana genome contains ten genes encoding TPPs and the expression level of one, TPPE, and trehalose contents

Most eukaryotic cells are polarized. Common toolbox regulating cell polarization includes Rho guanosine triphosphatases (GTPases), in which spatiotemporal activation is regulated by a plethora of regulators. Rho of plants (ROPs) are the only Rho GTPases in plants. Although vesicular trafficking was hinted in the regulation of ROPs, it was unclear where vesicle‐carried ROP starts, whether it is dynamically

Histone H3 trimethylation at lysine 36 (H3K36me3) was recently reported to show a significant overlap with N6 -methyladenosine (m6 A) mRNA modification in mammals. However, a similar linkage between histone and mRNA modifications has not yet been investigated in plants. Here, we highlight the highly influential discovery in mammals, and also show that H3K36me2 is a possible determinant of m6 A deposition

Pollen exine contains complex biopolymers of aliphatic lipids and phenolics. Abnormal development of pollen exine often leads to plant sterility. Molecular mechanisms regulating exine formation have been studied extensively but remain ambiguous. Here we report the analyses of three GDSL esterase/lipase protein genes, OsGELP34, OsGELP110, and OsGELP115, for rice exine formation. OsGELP34 was identified

Fusarium ear rot, caused by Fusarium verticillioides, is a devastating fungal disease in maize that reduces yield and quality; moreover, F. verticillioides produces fumonisin mycotoxins, which pose serious threats to human and animal health. Here, we performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) under three environmental conditions and identified 34 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that were

The balance between cellular carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) must be tightly coordinated to sustain optimal growth and development in plants. In chloroplasts, photosynthesis converts inorganic C to organic C, which is important for maintenance of C content in plant cells. However, little is known about the role of chloroplasts in C/N balance. Here, we identified a nuclear-encoded protein LOW PHOTOSYNTHETIC

Self-incompatibility (SI) is a genetic mechanism that rejects self-pollen and thus prevents inbreeding in some hermaphroditic angiosperms. In the Brassicaceae, SI involves a pollen-stigma recognition system controlled by a single locus known as the S locus, which consists of two highly polymorphic genes that encode S-locus cysteine-rich protein (SCR) and S-receptor kinase (SRK). When self-pollen lands

Modification of cell wall properties has been considered as one of the determinants that confer aluminum (Al) tolerance in plants, while how cell wall modifying processes are regulated remains elusive. Here, we present a WRKY transcription factor WRKY47 involved in Al tolerance and root growth. Lack of WRKY47 significantly reduces, while overexpression of it increases Al tolerance. We show that lack

Pollen grains are covered by exine that protects the pollen from stress and facilitates pollination. Here we isolated a male sterile mutant s13283 in rice exhibiting aborted pollen with abnormal exine and defective aperture. The mutant gene encodes a novel plasma membrane‐localized legume‐lectin receptor kinase that we named OsLecRK‐S.7. OsLecRK‐S.7 was expressed at different levels in all tested tissues

Mitochondria are frequently observed in the vicinity of chloroplasts in photosynthesizing cells, and this association is considered necessary for their metabolic interactions. We previously reported that, in leaf palisade cells of Arabidopsis thaliana, mitochondria exhibit blue-light-dependent redistribution together with chloroplasts, which conduct accumulation and avoidance responses under the control

BT2 is a BTB/TAZ domain protein with key roles in multiple stress responses and the plant development of Arabidopsis (Figueroa et al. 2005; Ren et al. 2007; Mandadi et al. 2009). Recent studies have demonstrated that apple MdBT2 functions as a negative regulator in diverse hormonal and environmental signal-induced anthocyanin biosynthesis, suggesting that MdBT2 integrates stress signals and anthocyanin

Crosstalk between plant hormone signaling pathways is vital for controlling the immune response during pathogen invasion. Salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA) often play important but antagonistic roles in the immune responses of higher plants. Here, we identify a basic helix-loop-helix transcription activator, OsbHLH6, which confers disease resistance in rice by regulating SA and JA signaling

Male sterility is a prerequisite for hybrid seed production. The phytohormone gibberellin (GA) is involved in regulating male reproductive development, but the mechanism underlying GA homeostasis in anther development remains less understood. Here, we report the isolation and characterization of a new positive regulator of GA homeostasis, swollen anther wall 1 (SAW1), for anther development in rice

Water transport from roots to leaves through xylem is important for plant growth and development. Defects in water transport can cause drought stress, even when there is adequate water in the soil. Here, we identified the maize (Zea mays) wilty5 (wi5) mutant, which exhibits marked dwarfing and leaf wilting throughout most of its life cycle under normal growth conditions. wi5 seedlings exhibited lower

To gain a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of photosystem I (PSI) biogenesis, we characterized the Arabidopsis thaliana photosystem I biogenesis factor 2 (pbf2) mutant, which lacks PSI complex. PBF2 encodes a P-class pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) protein. In the pbf2 mutants, we observed a striking decrease in the transcript level of only one gene, the chloroplast gene ycf3, which

In multicellular organisms, the balance between cell division and differentiation determines organ size, and represents a central unknown in developmental biology. In Arabidopsis roots, this balance is mediated between cytokinin and auxin through a regulatory circuit converging on the IAA3/SHORT HYPOCOTYL 2 (SHY2 ) gene. Here, we show that crosstalk between brassinosteroids (BRs) and auxin occurs in

Light plays an important role in plants' growth and development throughout their life cycle. Plants alter their morphological features in response to light cues of varying intensity and quality. Dedicated photoreceptors help plants to perceive light signals of different wavelengths. Activated photoreceptors stimulate the downstream signaling cascades that lead to extensive gene expression changes responsible

Light signals mediate a number of physiological and developmental processes in plants, such as flowering, photomorphogenesis, and pigment accumulation. Emerging evidence has revealed that a group of B‐box proteins (BBXs) function as central players in these light‐mediated developmental processes. B‐box proteins are a class of zinc‐coordinated transcription factors or regulators that not only directly

Plants depend on gravity to provide the constant landmark for downward root growth and upward shoot growth. The phytohormone auxin and its cell‐to‐cell transport machinery are central determinants ensuring gravitropic growth. Statolith sedimentation toward gravity is sensed in specialized cells. This positional cue is translated into the polar distribution of PIN auxin efflux carriers at the plasma

Endophytic fungi can be beneficial to plant growth. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying colonization of Acremonium spp. remain unclear. In this study, a novel endophytic Acremonium strain was isolated from the buds of Panax notoginseng and named Acremonium sp. D212. The Acremonium sp. D212 could colonize the roots of P. notoginseng, enhance the resistance of P. notoginseng to root rot disease

Breeding of rice varieties that are enriched with essential micronutrients and simultaneously have reduced levels of toxic elements in grains is largely unexplored in rice breeding practice. In this issue of JIPB, Liu et al. (2020) developed two rice lines with low level of cadmium and simultaneously high levels of zinc or selenium accumulation in the grains, thus providing elite genetic materials

Large-scale production of male sterile seeds can be achieved by introducing a fertility-restoration gene linked with a pollen-killer gene into a recessive male sterile mutant. We attempted to construct this system in rice by using a late-stage pollen-specific (LSP) promoter driving the expression of maize α-amylase gene ZM-AA1. To obtain such promoters in rice, we conducted comparative RNA-seq analysis

Jasmonic acid (JA) plays a critical role in plant defenses against insects and necrotrophic fungi. Wounding or lepidopteran insect feeding rapidly induces a burst of JA in plants, which usually reaches peak values within 1 to 2 h. The induced JA is converted to JA-Ile and perceived by the COI1-JAZ co-receptor, leading to activation of the transcription factors MYC2 and its homologs, which further induce